AMC is ramping up scripted development with pilot orders to two period dramas: Turn, from Nikita creator/executive producer Craig Silverstein and Barry Josephson, and Halt & Catch Fire, from Breaking Bad executive producer Mark Johnson. The cable network already ordered two scripted pilots this year — Low Winter Sun and the untitled Richard LaGravenese/Tony Goldwyn project, marking the first time AMC had picked up two pilots at the same time. Now the network has greenlighted a whopping four pilots in the same year — that is almost as many AMC ordered in the five years it has been in the original programming business. Filming onTurnand Halt & Catch Fire is slated for next year, while Low Winter Sun and the LaGravenese/Goldwyn project recently completed production. I hear AMC brass won’t wait for Halt & Catch Fire and Turn to be done before making pickup decisions on the other two pilots. Halt & Catch Fire and Turn were among half a dozen scripts that participated in AMC’s pilot script showcase in April, along with Low Winter Sun and the LaGravenese/Goldwyn project, which got the nod. Turn and Halt & Catch Fire were kept in consideration, and are now joining the other two as pilots. “These additional pilot orders demonstrate AMC’s investment in our original scripted programming,” said Susie Fitzgerald, AMC’s SVP Scripted Development and Current Programming. “Both of these projects take the audience into unique worlds through compelling characters told with an original voice.”

Based on Alexander Rose’s book Washington’s Spies, Turn is set in the summer of 1778 and tells the story of New York farmer Abe Woodhull, who bands together with a group of childhood friends to form The Culper Ring, an unlikely group of spies who turn the tide in America’s fight for independence. The project, from AMC Studios, is written/executive produced by Silverstein and exec produced by Josephson. Silverstein originally wrote Turn the same year he wrote Nikita and co-wrote the pilot script of Terra Nova. I hear that the AMC project is now in first position, so if Nikita gets renewed for a fourth season, he will transition the series to a new showrunner.

Set in the early 1980s, Halt & Catch Fire dramatizes the personal computing boom through the eyes of a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy whose innovations directly confront the corporate behemoths of the time. Their personal and professional partnership will be challenged by greed and ego while charting the changing culture in Texas’ Silicon Prairie. Also from AMC Studios, Halt & Catch Fire is created by Chris Cantwell and Chris Rogers. Johnson and Melissa Bernstein from Gran Via Prods serve as executive producers.

19 Comments

Does this mean they’ve come to their senses and aren’t bringing THE KILLING back for season 3?

Anonymous • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

period drama = no blacks

Anonymous • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

There could and should be blacks in the Revolutionary War drama. Which I am jazzed to see, either way.

But yknow what I really want to see? A Civil War drama. And with 10% of the Union Army black, not to mention all the medical and support personnel, many of whom were self-liberated slaves. No Civil War drama has any right to be lily-white. In fact, what I’d want is basically Glory: The TV Series, but going well beyond the 54th Mass. There is a great American story to be told…

wednesday night lights • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

You sound obsessed with race. Speaking of the races, there’s gonna be a great NASCAR showdown this weekend !
Oh wait, I bet you don’t watch auto racing due to…oh, nevermind.
Uhhh, uhhh…go Lakers !

Where is Nikita showing? Have seen first two episodes would like to know if more is available?

Alex • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

Both shows sound fascinating. Can’t wait.

jwhutney • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

Nope, it doesn’t. The writers room for the soon-to-be-watched-by-nobody third season of THE KILLING started up yesterday.

D$ • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

Time to spend some of Dish Networks’ money…

Sareeta • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

These pilots sound great. Here’s hoping they don’t fall into the same rut as The Prisoner and Rubicon (which I loved, but didn’t fare well in the ratings). As a big fan of Nikita, I’m happy to see another project from Silverstein.

The only way I could possibly watch The Killing is if they start fresh: same 2 central characters, but brand new mystery of the season and new characters.

The Reader • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

If that’s what AMC is into… I just read NY’s Finest over on the Blacklist. Perfect for their network. Better than Boardwalk Empire.

Rex • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

With Mad Men wrapping up in two seasons, and Breaking Bad gone next year, I can understand their desire to greenlight a lot of projects right now.

Black Dude in Encino • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

Hey Anonymous, there’s always “Cops” ! And “America’s Most Wanted”

Young Turk • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

Low. Winter. Sun.

100stones3x • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

TURN is a very cool project. Good for Silverstein — wonderful writer/producer and nice fellow.

Tony H • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

Good for Cantwell and Rogers! I read the Knoll back when they first signed with 360. Huvane told me they had a tv show in the vault, and I guess this is it. Couldn’t happen to two nicer guys. Look forward to seeing this.

Kevin Wales • on Nov 27, 2012 1:50 pm

As usual, the UK can’t really be involved in these discussions, as we have to wait a whole year before we see what you’ve already seen. Nikita for example = the last episode s2,ep23 will be shown on Friday. I’m sure you will be seeing s3,ep23?